Tassie’s Mona Foma drops biggest line-up yet

When a festival is curated by Brian Ritchie, the bass player from American folk punk band Violent Femmes, who also happens to be proficient at the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute (go figure), you know it's going to be pretty bad ass.

Mona Foma has certainly lived up to this expectation, earning its stripes as a true music-lover's festival and delivering year after year of world class line-ups; from Peaches, to PJ Harvey to the Dresden Dolls.

Its tenth anniversary event, taking place from 12 - 22 January 2018, does not miss a beat. A spine-tingling array of local and international acts are set to rock out on the lawns of Hobart's MONA for the last time before the festival relocates to Launceston.

Leading the way is somebody you used to know, Gotye, who'll present the premiere of his tribute to the late French composer Jean-Jacques Perrey with a pre-synth show featuring the Ondioline Orchestra.

Another world premiere will come in the form of Violent Femmes' live collaboration with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, which will see their music reimagined in an orchestral performance.

Chicago-based American soul singer, songwriter and poet Jamila Woods will lighten the vibe with her breezy take on soul and R'n'B. She is widely known for her collaborative works with Chance the Rapper on the hit song "Sunday Candy" from the album Surf as well as "Blessings" from Coloring Book. Woods is also featured on the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song "White Privilege II".

Other highlights include a 24-hour performance by musician Martin Blackwell performed on a crazy array of instruments from around the world; a 20-part set of musical compositions inspired by Dune author Frank Herbert's novel, The Green Brain Cycle; and the festival's late-night party hub Faux Mo, which will have a new home in MAC2 on Hobart's waterfront.

Mona Foma takes place in Hobart and Launceston from January 12–22, 2018. Tickets go on sale Monday October 16 from 12pm at mofo.net.au/